Compounds formed with covalent bonds are primarily composed of nonmetals or semi-metals combined with nonmetals. These compounds are called molecular or covalent compounds. Common examples include water (H2O), nitrogen gas (N2), oxygen gas (O2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and organic compounds such as methane (CH4). Covalent bonds involve the sharing of electron pairs between atoms, allowing them to achieve stable electronic configurations resembling noble gases. Types of covalent bonds include single (one pair of electrons shared), double (two pairs shared), and triple bonds (three pairs shared). Covalent compounds can exist as simple molecules, macromolecules (like synthetic polymers and biopolymers), or giant covalent structures (like diamond and graphite). In comparison, ionic compounds typically form between metals and nonmetals, whereas covalent bonds form between atoms with similar electronegativities, mostly nonmetals and semi-metals. Summary:
- Covalent compounds: composed of nonmetals or semi-metals with nonmetals
- Form molecules via shared electron pairs (single, double, triple bonds)
- Examples: H2O, N2, O2, CO2, CH4
- Can be simple molecules, polymers, or network covalent structures
This captures the main kinds of compounds formed with covalent bonds and their characteristics.
